Mumbai Indians, who are desperately looking for a win tonight in the MCA Stadium, Pune against Chennai Super Kings put up a good show. Chennai’s usual performer Rayudu and Raina did their best to take the score to a higher total but Mumbai managed to keep them down to 169/5 runs in the first innings. Raina top-scored with 75 runs from 47 balls.

Earlier in the night, Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to field first. After the five losses in the first six matches, MI finally decided to drop Kieron Pollard and brought JP Duminy in the team. Mustafizur Rehman was also rested with Ben Cutting taking his place. Chennai Super Kings went in unchanged.

Despite Rayudu and Watson collecting regular boundaries, the overall run-rate of Chennai Super Kings stayed below 7. In the first four overs, they scored 24 runs only. With pressure mounting on Watson, he mistimed a sweep on the bowling of Krunal Pandya. In the same over, Raina and Rayudu smacked a six each.

By the end of the powerplay, CSK had scored 51 runs with Raina and Rayudu again looking all set to demolish Mumbai bowling. With regular bowling changes coming in from the captain Rohit Sharma, CSK batsmen found it hard to get going and had to be content. Rayudu was dismissed by Pandya for 46(35).

After the usual sluggish start, MS Dhoni got into the top gear and took Mayank Markande, the same bowler who had got him out in the first match. Dhoni was dismissed by McClenaghan and CSK at the end of 18 overs stood at only 148/4.

Suresh Raina then took the charge of the situation and managed to take CSK past 160 and they eventually posted 169/5. McClenaghan was the pick of the bowlers as he took 2/26 in his four overs. Mumbai now has to chase 170 runs on a pitch that looks easier to bat on.